Mansura, Sindh

Mansura (Arabic: المنصورة, romanized: al-manṣūra, lit. 'the triumphant [city]'; Sindhi: منصوره), referred to as Brahmanabad or Bahmanabad (Sindhi: برهمڻ آباد, romanized: barhamaṇabād, pronounced [ˈbəɾɦəmnɑːˈbɑːd̪]) in later centuries, was the historic capital of the caliphal province of Sindh, during the eighth century under the Umayyad Caliphate, and later the Abbasid Caliphate from the year 750 AD to 1006 AD. Founded as a central garrison by Umayyad forces in Sindh, the city transformed into a metropolis during the Abbasid era, surpassing the wealth of both Multan to the north and Debal to the south. Mansura was the first capital established by Muslims in South Asia after Muhammad bin Qasim seized the Brahmanabad territory. Built on the banks of the Indus River, Mansura was surrounded by fertile farmland. Ibn Hauqal mentioned the wealthy local merchants who wore Baghdad Costume and were of Sindhi-Arab origins; their houses were made of clay, baked bricks and plaster.

Mansura exported herbs and spices, textiles, ivory, metals and mirrors to Baghdad. The city also housed renowned educational institutions, which produced the first translation of the Quran in the Sindhi language. The translation was used throughout the Indus valley region. Mansura was home to notable figures such as Abu Mashar Sindhi, who is described by many historians and chroniclers as a pioneer in the compilation of Hadith; Abu Raja Sindhi lived in Baghdad and engaged in scientific and literary pursuits, translating a large number of ancient books of South Asia on mathematics, astronomy, astrology, medicine, literature and ethics into Arabic.

According to geologists, an earthquake struck both Debal and Mansura in the year 893 AD, and the city was later ruled by the Soomro Emirs. Mansura was sacked by the forces of Mahmud of Ghazni because the inhabitants feared his reputation and refused to open the gates.